Automatic closure for collapsible tubes



Jan. 10, 1950 Y A. E. GROODY 2,493,814

AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Dec. 22,. 1944 ALBEKI'EGROODY,

. I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10,1959

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBESAlbert E. Groody, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,325

2 Claims.

This invention relates to self-closing tubes for use 'for tooth-pastes,creams and like materials. Broadly, it is an object of my invention toprovide an inexpensiveclosure for a flexible tube so that the materialwithin the tube, such as toothpaste and like materials can be easilysqueezed from the tube by finger pressure and when thepressureds'released; thecap will automatically close in order to preventany of the substance within the tube from emerging from the tube. a Moreparticularly,it is an object of my invention to provide a two piece capfor flexible tubes used for' creams and the like which automaticallycloses upon the release of pressure.

A further object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive cap. .forflexible-tubes which will prevent air from entering intoth-etube at alltimes so that the material within the tube will not be affected;

A further object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive cap forflexible tubes so constructed-that upon manipulationof the cap, the capwill becomelocked to prevent any of the contentsof the tube fromemerging from the tube even though pressure is applied.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of'my invention,reference is had to the following detailed description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical section taken through the upper portionof the tube along line l-l of Fig. 2, the rest of the tube being cutaway.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the tube shown in Fig. 1, part of cap portionbeing broken away.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the tube shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a modified tube with part of the cap portionbeing partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a modified cap.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, numeral illrepresents the upper portion of the tube. A lateral channel is providedat the upper portion of the tube so that movable member l2 will slidablyfit within said channel. A channel I3, communicating with the lateralchannel, arcuate in shape, is provided to permit spring M to enterchannel l3 when the cap is revolved counter-clockwise. A cap l5 has aridge l6 which seats upon a similar ridge ll of the tube and has anopening it! in the top I l to permit the contents of the tube to emergeupon pressure upon the tube. The spring I4 is pressed from the materialof the side 23 of the cap l5 although it may be attached to the cap byany well-known means.

The upper portion of the tube has a seat 19 to 2 permit the movablemember l2 to slidably move laterally thereon. Spring l4 provides apressure upon the back 20 of themovable member l2 so that upon pressureupon the tube the contents of the tube will press upon the curved face21 of the movable member 12 and upon the curved inner portion 22 of thetop of the tube thus forcing the movable member 12 rearwardly toward theside 23 against spring I4 and side 23 of the cap permitting the contentsof the tube to emerge through the topopening [8 of the tube numeral l9indicates the seat upon which the movable member I2 is seated and moves.The channel which is called-a lateral channel is the channel in whichthe-movable-member l2 slides, l 9 being the seat of said channel. InFigure 2, it will be seen that the movable memberslides reciprocably, asindicated by the doublearrow and the lateral channel in which movablemember 12 slides communicates with the arcuate channel l3. The spacebetween the seat l9 and the tube Hl provides a lateral channel justdescribed. 2

Channel 13 has a wall 24 which acts as a stop for a spring 14 when thecap is revolved.

An indent 25 is provided in cap l5 having an inside face 26 which actsas a stop for the movable member l2, that is, upon turning the cap 15,the spring I4 will stop against stop- 24 of the arcuate channel Itmoving indent 25 so that the inside face 26 rests against the back ofthe movable member l2, thus efiectively stopping any movement of themember l2 and closing the opening 18 so that no material within the tubecan emerge from the tube.

In travelling, it is always wise to turn the cap in order to lock thetube so that any pressure upon the sides of the tube will not cause thecontents of the tube to emerge from the tube. In filling the tube, whichis usually done through the bottom of the tube, the cap is turned sothat it is in locked position, or when the cap is placed originally uponthe tube, it may be placed in its locked position, that is, indent willbe directly behind movable member I2 so that in filling the tube thematerial will not emerge through the opening id of the tube. When thetube is completely filled, the bottom of the tube is then closed by anywell-known means.

The cap may be preferably made of metal, however, plastics and otherlike materials may be used and if plastics are used, of course, thespring member M can be attached to the plastic by eyelets or adhesive orother known means to provide pressure upon the movable member.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, a cap 39 3 is provided, preferablymade of plastic which can be attached to the upper portion of the tubeby a ridge 21. Cap 39 has an interior projection 38 to which spring 28may be attached by bending prongs 29 fromthe material of the springitself into channels within the face of projection 38, so that spring 28is firmly held upon ridge 38. The free end of spring 28 being in contactwith the back portionof movable' member30 provides the required pressureupon such movable member. There is an opening 3| provided at the top ofthe cap when the movable member 30 is in retracted position to permitthe contents of the tube to emerge upon pressure, as described for Figs.1 to 3 inclusive. An arcuate channel 32 has a stop wall 33 at the endthereof so that when the cap 39 is revolved, the end 34 of the spring 28will rest against the stop wall 33 of the 7 channel 32, bringing theprojection 38 behind the movable member 30 so that the movable member 30is effectively locked against movement, thus closing opening 3| againstemergence of the material within the tube.

Upon applying pressure to any portion of the sides of the tube, themovable member 30 will move against the spring 28 thus permitting thematerial to pass through opening 3!. Instead of springs I4 and 28, asmall rubber block may be used.

Fig. 5 is the same structure as the cap of Fig. I except that aninterior thread 36 is used to attach cap 35 to the standard tube top 31.The same thread structure shown in Fig. 5 may be applied to the capshown in Fig. 4.

It is obvious, that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construc- 7 tion without departing from the general spirit of:set forth in the appended 4 within said cap providing a stop forlimiting the rotation of said cap, a projection within said cap, saidprojection acting as a stop for said movable member when said projectionis moved behind said movable member, whereby when said filled tube ispressed the contents within said tube will cause said movable member tomove against said spring pressure providing space for the contents toemerge through said opening in the top of said cap.

2. In combination with a collapsible tube, a rotatable cap having a topand a round side, means for rotatably attaching said cap to said tube,an opening in said top, a seat at the top of said tube providing alateral channel between said seat and said top, a movable memberslidably fitted within said channel, a projection on g the inside ofsaid side of said cap for seating a spring, an arcuate channelcommunicating with said lateral channel within said cap, said springprojecting within said arcuate channel providing resilient means againstsaid movablev member, the end of said spring acting as a stop againstthe end wall of said arcuate channel whereby when said cap is rotatedcounter-clockwise, said movable member is locked in its closed positionand when said cap is rotated clockwise and the sides of said collapsibletube are pressed, the contents within said tube will cause said movablemember to move against said spring to provide a space for the contentsto emerge from said opening in top of said cap.

ALBERT E. GROODY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 859,898 Wolif July 9, 19071,123,989 Bryson Jan. 5, 1915 1,721,666 Lee July 23, 1929 1,881,488Gleason Oct. 11, 1932 1,905,936 Heard Apr. 25, 1933 1,922,204 JohnsonAug. 15, 1933 2,011,742 Weber Aug. 20, 1935

